David Tate

David Edward Tate, 80, died April 8, 2021 after a battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was born June 23, 1940 in the Republic of Panama. Son of the late Jesse DeWitt Tate and Ethel Westman Tate, he grew up in the Panama Canal Zone with his parents, his older sister Louise, and numerous pets, including his beloved Javelina, Moochie. An avid outdoorsman from childhood onward, he spent many happy hours hunting and fishing in and around the Canal Zone. After graduation from Balboa High School, he journeyed to Atlanta, Georgia. In Atlanta, he saw his first snowfall and completed Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Named the Pi Tau Sigma Outstanding Senior in Mechanical Engineering, another highlight was a blind date with Jane Johnston. Instantly appealing to one another, they were married in December 1963. The couple journeyed to Fort Benning Georgia to serve his Army commitment in the Army Corps of Engineers. Along the way, David earned the coveted Paratrooper Wings, completing five jumps including a night jump. Additionally, he attained the marksmanship rating of Expert with the M14 rifle and the .45 automatic pistol. He was deployed to Vietnam in 1965 and made a safe return in 1966. After his honorable discharge from the Army, David and Jane moved to Spartanburg SC. David and Jane commenced a lifelong affiliation with First Presbyterian Church at that time. The family had expanded with three energetic sons, and by 1972, David was ready to go into business for himself, founding Tate Metalworks in April 1972. By dint of hard work and much skill, David and Jane grew the business over the years, with David stepping aside as President of the company in 2013 and handing the reins over to his son Brian. Although fully engaged at work, David made time for his church, serving First Presbyterian as Elder, Deacon, Sunday School teacher, and on a host of committees. Additionally, he and Jane were both heavily involved with Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, with David serving as scoutmaster, and with all three Tate boys attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Jane died in 2013, and David stayed busy with outdoor and family pursuits. In the meantime, a family friend arranged a date with the lovely widow Betty Reagan. Eventually, they were married, and a harmonious new family unit was created, now expanded to three children, two step-children, and eight grandchildren. No summary of David's living life to the utmost is complete without discussing his mechanical and outdoor pursuits. He assembled and disassembled entire \cars, skillfully conceived, designed and fabricated complex custom pressure vessels, caught a 70-pound tarpon on a fly rod, and took a 300-pound grouper with a spear gun while Scuba diving. A masterful hunter, he took feral hogs from a helicopter in Western Texas, used thermal imaging, on foot, to carry out successful night hunts for feral hogs, built his own muzzleloaders, successfully used to take deer. Living life to the maximum, this one-man episode of Wild Kingdom made his own free-range sausage that is the stuff of family legend. A vital element of all of Dad's adventures was that all of them took place accompanied by his sons and grandsons so that all of these epic occasions became joyous family outings. Predeceased by his first wife Jane Johnston Tate, parents Jesse Dewitt and Ethel Westman Tate, and sister, Louise Tate Schlegel, he leaves behind an expansive and loving family unit. Surviving family includes sons, David Tate, Jr. (Danielle) of Louisville, Kentucky, Grant Tate (Becky) and Brian Tate (Jeannie), both of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Jay Reagan (MaryLadd) of Charlotte North Carolina, and Kelley Reagan of Charleston, South Carolina. Grandchildren include David Tate III, Elizabeth, and Katherine Tate of Louisville, Kentucky, Evie Tate of Missoula, Montana, Maron Tate of Los Angeles, California, Abby Moss of Beaufort SC, Joshua Moss of Inman, South Carolina, John Reagan and Anne Palmer Reagan of Charlotte, NC, Antonio Santana (Destiny), Miko Santana (Bekah) and Timothy Durham, all of Louisville, Kentucky. A recent joyful addition is great-grandson Dixon Ray Santana of Louisville, Kentucky, along with Dixon's running mate, grand-dog Miss Marple the Great Dane. The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Dr. Steven Corso and his staff, the hematology-oncology unit at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, the Hospice Service at Spartanburg Regional, and the Comfort Keepers team, all of whom provided superb, compassionate care to David. Funeral services will take place 11:00 AM Monday, April 12, 2021 at First Presbyterian Church, 393 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC, 29302, with graveside services to follow immediately at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, 1300 Fernwood-Glendale Road, Spartanburg, SC 29307. Masks and social distancing are required in the sanctuary. The service will be livestreamed at www.fpcspartanburg.org/worship. In place of flowers, David requests that memorials be made to First Presbyterian Church, 393 East Main Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302. Floyd's North Church Street Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of David Edward Tate please visit our Sympathy Store.